The first time I saw this, the real key wasn't mentioned, making me think this is yet another attempt to technically make an EV but at the same time try hard not to sell it.
Really, there's not much stopping companies from making useful full-speed EVs like the EV1 that meet all the road safety requirements and don't accelerate like mopeds, but it seems to have become a taboo. Most are either a golf cart or a bank-breaking exotic supercar. Here we have a tiny car with a big silly grin and an iPod key system...
@mattattaxx: I'm just skeptical about how secure this thing really is. Personally I would never have something as important as my car keys on my iPhone, for many reasons.
For example, if my iPhone gets stolen, I would be worried about my car being stolen.
I'm probably being over paranoid, but that's just me. I can think of all sorts of things that could go wrong... Like say... a virus that infects your iPhone so your car can be unlocked/started without you knowing.
And YES I do realize that right now it's pretty ridiculous even bringing up a virus for the iPhone, but the fact is when an iPhone can control your car's functions, hackers will be attracted to that.
Anyways, this is all just my opinion-- don't get too defensive about it, not trying to start an argument lol.
@SJRNWT: If Apple gives them hardware level access they could theoretically make it quite secure. Every radio in there is going to have a unique, or at leas semi-unique, identifier associated with it, taken as a group it would be very hard to spoof.
The real security risk in such situation would be someone else physically obtaining your "Authentication device"... which is the same risk you run with keys.
But that all relies on Apple cooperating... and I just don't see it happening to the extent that would be required to make a system like this viable.
as much as i understand the importance of advancing alternative fuels, how efficient is spending millions of dollars on a car that can only work in a limited environment.
i think we should focus more on fuels that won't require the consumer to buy a new car, but only a modification
a) this is an exhibition event designed to spur R&D efforts.
b) there is pleanty of snake-oil on ebay right now for you to waste your money and time on. Minor modifications aren't going to save any significant amount of energy (unless you are talking maintenance that keeps the vehicle running at its intended efficency/emissions levels), to achieve meaningful reductions in oil consumption with existing vehicles you would either need to convert to natural gas (still only a band-aid measure) or do a full engine swap over to diesel/bio-diesel, neither option is an easy modification.
@Back to the Future 2012. SPOILER: We don't die.: Most cars on the street today will not be running in 15 years. If vehicle propulsion is revolutionized by some alternate fuel, we could replace most cars in that time.
04/20/09
Really, there's not much stopping companies from making useful full-speed EVs like the EV1 that meet all the road safety requirements and don't accelerate like mopeds, but it seems to have become a taboo. Most are either a golf cart or a bank-breaking exotic supercar. Here we have a tiny car with a big silly grin and an iPod key system...
04/19/09
04/19/09
04/19/09
04/19/09
04/19/09
04/19/09
For example, if my iPhone gets stolen, I would be worried about my car being stolen.
I'm probably being over paranoid, but that's just me. I can think of all sorts of things that could go wrong... Like say... a virus that infects your iPhone so your car can be unlocked/started without you knowing.
And YES I do realize that right now it's pretty ridiculous even bringing up a virus for the iPhone, but the fact is when an iPhone can control your car's functions, hackers will be attracted to that.
Anyways, this is all just my opinion-- don't get too defensive about it, not trying to start an argument lol.
04/19/09
The real security risk in such situation would be someone else physically obtaining your "Authentication device"... which is the same risk you run with keys.
But that all relies on Apple cooperating... and I just don't see it happening to the extent that would be required to make a system like this viable.
03/01/09
03/01/09
i think we should focus more on fuels that won't require the consumer to buy a new car, but only a modification
03/01/09
a) this is an exhibition event designed to spur R&D efforts.
b) there is pleanty of snake-oil on ebay right now for you to waste your money and time on. Minor modifications aren't going to save any significant amount of energy (unless you are talking maintenance that keeps the vehicle running at its intended efficency/emissions levels), to achieve meaningful reductions in oil consumption with existing vehicles you would either need to convert to natural gas (still only a band-aid measure) or do a full engine swap over to diesel/bio-diesel, neither option is an easy modification.
FYI - Ethanol is a joke.
03/02/09
03/01/09
03/02/09